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Active Living Technologies

The Active Living Technologies Research Theme aims to enable lifelong active living to enhance musculoskeletal health and general health. Our work includes any conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including neurological and respiratory conditions, ageing, cancer, obesity, so our work overlaps with several other themes in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and back pain, can limit activity, so their prevention and effective management are vital for an active lifestyle. Our work involves adolescents through to older adults, and includes a variety of conditions that affect people who are frail or sedentary through to people undertaking recreational and elite sports.

Overview

Our basic scientific research focuses on mechanisms of movement in health and musculoskeletal disorders, including the biomechanics of movement (led by Martin Warner) and neuromuscular control of movement (led by Maria Stokes). This knowledge informs the development of exercise programmes to protect joints from abnormal loading and injuries that may lead to osteoarthritis.

Key research programmes are:

Movement dysfunction mechanisms and exercise interventions – Maria Stokes
Clinical effectiveness of self-management interventions for people with arthritis – Jo Adams
Communication and decision-making in health encounters – Lisa Roberts
Foot and ankle research – Cathy Bowen

Our research is integral to the multidisciplinary Southampton Musculoskeletal Research Unit (link under construction) and Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. A strategy to develop sustainable research programmes is embedded within our research, through supported internships and doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships that facilitate capacity building.

Publications

Key Publications

Stokes, M., Evetts, S., & Hides, J. (2017). Guest Editorial for Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Supplement on: Terrestrial neuro-musculoskeletal rehabilitation and astronaut reconditioning: reciprocal knowledge transfer. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 27, S1-S4. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2016.10.003
Gooberman Hill, R., Jinks, C., Barbosa Boucas, S., Hislop, K., Dziedzic, K., Rhodes, C., ... Adams, J. (2013). Designing a placebo device: involving service users in clinical trial design. Health Expectations. DOI: 10.1111/hex.12043
Stokes, M., Evetts, S., & Hides, J. (2017). Guest Editorial for Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Supplement on: Terrestrial neuro-musculoskeletal rehabilitation and astronaut reconditioning: reciprocal knowledge transfer. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 27, S1-S4. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2016.10.003
Whittaker, J. L., Booysen, N., de la Motte, S., Dennett, L., Lewis, C., Wilson, D., ... Stokes, M. (2016). Predicting sport and occupational lower extremity injury risk through movement quality screening: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1-54. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096760
Agyapong-Badu, S., Warner, M., Samuel, D., & Stokes, M. (2016). Measurement of ageing effects on muscle tone and mechanical properties of rectus femoris and biceps brachii in healthy males and females using a novel hand-held myometric device. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 62, 59-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2015.09.011
Gooberman Hill, R., Jinks, C., Barbosa Boucas, S., Hislop, K., Dziedzic, K., Rhodes, C., ... Adams, J. (2013). Designing a placebo device: involving service users in clinical trial design. Health Expectations. DOI: 10.1111/hex.12043
Lamb, S., Williamson, E., Heine, P., Adams, J., Dosanjh, S., Dritsake, M., ... Williams, M. (2015). Exercises to improve function of the rheumatoid hand (SARAH): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 385(9966), 421-429. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60998-3
Bowen, S., Qing, M., Edwards, C., Williams, M., & Adams, J. (2016). An exploration of the characteristics of early RA hand involvement among different gender, age, and hand-dominance in a Chinese population. Rheumatology, 55, [i113]. DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew130.009

Staff

Related Projects

Related Projects	Status	Type
Motion analysis of movement dysfunction in musculoskeletal disorders	Active	Other
Movement dysfunction in footballers with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)	Active	Other

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